Rotary internal combustion engine



Feb. 14, 1939. c. APPLETON 2,146,877

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3 tion, and in which: ery of which are formed two projecting side 30 50 pivoted piston lever at the roller. end of the The outer end of the lever 20 is mounted in '60 Patented Feb. 14, 1939 e 2,146,877

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTARY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Charles Appleton, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Application June 24, 1937, Serial No. 150,211 9 Claims. (c1. 123-8) This invention relates to rotary type internal Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. '7, but showing combustion engines adapted for general power the position of the parts which they assume at p p s n it may be adapted for st n ry. the completion of the exhaust stroke. marine, automotive and airplane purpo es. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of one of My invention lends itself to either water coolthe power pistons. '5 ing or air cooling, and an object of my inven- Figs. 10 and 11 are. side elevations of the station has been to provide an engine of this kind tionary cams 29 and 2a respectively. that is practically valveless, of few and simple Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view showing the parts, sturdy in construction and free of experipheral curve of the rotor and the relation of 10 cessive complications. the same to the inner periphery of the wall 36 10 A further object of my invention has been of the casing. to provide an engine having a balanced torque, 'In these drawings like numerals indicate like free of vibration and requiring few adjustments parts throughout all the views, and the numeral to keep it in proper running order. I indicates the outer end casings of a rotary 15 My invention comprises a hollow rotor havengine which has a central section 2 in which 15 ing a spoked hub the arms of which, if desired, rotates a hollow rotor member 3. may be angularly disposed to act as fan blades Within the rotor member 3 there are formed for setting up an air circulation. two square piston housings 4, in each of which The main rotor body carries multiple square there are mounted a piston 5 and a piston vane 6. pistons in the rim, which pistons are actuated The outer end casings I are secured to the through inwardly projecting plunger-rods concentral section 2 by the screws or bolts 1 which nected to lever linkages traversing a fixed cam, also secure the outer cover 8 of the water jacket. whereby reciprocation of the pistons is effected Each of the outer end casings I has bearings for drawing in and compressing the fuel charge 9 in the center thereof, and these bearings conof th engine. centrically mount the end casings l and central 25 My invention and the nature of same, will be section 2 upon the main shaft to upon which more readily understood by reference to the rotor member I is mounted. following detailed specification and the accom- The rotor member 3 has a hub ii and spokes panying drawings forming ,part of this applical2 carrying a wide rim l3 upon the outer periph- Fig. 1 is a vertical, cross-sectional view of .an flanges M which form the side walls to the pisengine showing the arrangement and mounting ton housings 4. (See Fig. 2.) of the principal elements, the pistons being Between the side wall rotor flanges I4 is shown at their top dead center positions. 1 mounted the outer peripheral wall ii of the Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section and part elerotor proper which is in two sections. Each sec- 35 vation on the line 22 of Fig. 1. tion has end walls l6 having a concentric flange Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the engine and portion I! for bolting on to the wide rim I3 01' shows the mounting of the intake manifold, the rotor member 8. spark plugs and the make and break ignition The end walls It together with the side flanges 40 panel on the front of the housing. l4 of the rotor complete the housings 4 of the 40 Fig. 4 is a detail elevation of the cams with the pistons 5 and piston vanes 6. rollers located between the same, the view being To the center 01' each square piston is mounttaken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 looking in the direced a piston rod it which projects through a tion of the arrow. bushing I! mounted in the rim l3 of the rotor 5 Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of into the inner space of the main rotor body. the piston vanes, illustrating the guide fingers The inner end of the piston rod i8 is conformed on one end and the side. thereof. nected to the end of a lever 20 which is pivoted Fig. 6 is a detail view, parts being broken at 2| to a pivoted link 22 mounted upon the inaway, of the cam roller arm, its guide and the ner periphery of the wide rim is of the rotor.

arm. a swivel bushing 23 carried in the lower end Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but show- 01' a cam rod 24 which is slidably mounted in a ing the parts in the position they assume at the gui 25 Secured p One e d of the wide rim commencement of the suction or intake stroke H of he rotor- See Fi ure 2.) of the pistons. The upper end of the cam rod 24 carries two cam rollers 28 and 21, the outer cam roller 21 traversing a fixed and stationary cam 28 mounted within one of the end casings i and being bolted to the inner face of the central bearing 8.

The roller 28 contacts with a fianged cam 28 bolted upon one face or side of the central section 2 and both the cams 28 and 28 are of complementary profile to each other. (See Figure 4.)

It should be understood that there are two units such as are shown in Fig. 6, one for each piston I.

Within the piston housing I, which in effect comprises a cylinder, and upon the forward side of the piston I is mounted a hollow piston vane I, (see Fig. 1) which is of rectangular shape and has a head curvature corresponding with the curvature of the central section 2.

One side of the piston vane I is elongated and divided to form a series of square fingers 30 which project through apertures 3| formed in the wide rim i3 of the rotor. (See Figure'5 illustrat-r ing the fingers and Figures 1 and 2 illustrating fingers projecting through rim l3.)

The finger side of the piston vane I comprises a side wall and guide to the piston I. Within the hollow of the piston vane I ismounted a rod 32, the lower end of which is mounted slidably within a bore of a pivoted rod 33, the lower end of which is connected to a counterbalanced bell crank lever 34 that is pivoted to a pivoted link member 3I connected upon the inner periphery of the outer peripheral wall II of the rotor. (See Figure 1.) 34' is a counterbalancing weight on lever 33.

The outer walls 33 of the central section or portion 2 of the engine are formed to comprise to permit of the escape of the burnt gases. The

exhaust ports II are connected to a U-shaped exhaust manifold 4| mounted upon one end of the engine which in turn connects to an exhaust outlet 32.

The intake ports 33 are connected on the oppomte side of the engine to an intake manifold 83 to which is connected the carburettor II.

Ignition is effected through a make and break mechanism II mounted upon a panel 43 bolted upon the outer face of one of the end casings I (see Figure 3) and through which the spark plug wires extend.

The make and break mechanism is operated or actuated by a cammember 81 mounted upon and adjacent the edge of the wide rim l3.

The central section 2 is surrounded by a water jacket 48 which has an inlet connection 88 at the bottom of the engine and an outlet or discharge II positioned at the top.

The pistons I are provided, on each of their four sides, with compression or packing strips II purpose of forcing outwardly the piston-vanes I to keep the same in contact with the undulations of the inner face of the central section 2 or main body housing of the engineas the rotor 3 is revolved.

The spark plug openings 38 are fitted with the usual spark plugs I3.

As shown in Fig. 12, the outer face of wall II of the rotor and the inner face of wall 3I of the central section of the casing are concentric for only short distances, i. e., between the intake ports 39 and the exhaust ports 48; thus itmay be said that the tangential passages 31 (which constitute what might be 'called the working chambers of the engine) extend between the points A and B in the direction of rotation (counter-clockwise in Figs. 1, 7 and 8) of the rotor. (See Fig. 12.) l

It is to be observed that the outer faces of the pistons I conform in curvature to that portion of the peripheral wall 38 which is located at the beginning of the working chambers or tangential passages 31. Some portion of the outer faces of the pistons I always remains in contact with the wall II, except for the small steep portions A-C, and while the pistons are drawing in a fresh charge. During the working strokes the pistons I serve as power abutments.

In operation the engine functions as follows. The main shaft II, on which is mounted the hollow rotor member 3, is revolved either manually or by a suitable starter for the purpose of drawing in a charge from the carburettor 83 through the intake ports 38'.

Referring first to Fig. '7, let us assume that a spent charge has been exhausted from each of the chambers 31 via their respective ports 38: also assume that the ports 38 have just been uncovered by the piston vanes and are now in communication with the piston housings; also assume that the rloior is turning counter-clockwise in Figs. 1,

At this time any gases remaining in chambers 31 will be atmospheric pressure since 31 are open through exhaust ports II; also rollers 28 and 21 will have entered the lowest "dips" of the cams 28 and the cams 28-28 are moving the pistons I inwardly, thereby drawing fresh charges through the ports 38 into the piston housings I. On moving onward the piston vanes I follow the contour of the inner faces of the wall 33 in advance of the pistons I and hence close off the escape of the fresh charges from housings I while the pistons I passports 33. Assoonasthepistonslpassthe ports 38 and the rear edges of the pistons pass points A (Fig. 12) the pistons are rapidly pushed outwardly by the action of them 23, thereby compressing the fresh charges into thespaees D in Fig. l.

As soon as the parts reach the position shown in Fig. 1, the compressed charges are fired by the spark plugs and the rotor is impelled under the exploded charges at the rear or following sides of the pistons I.

As the parts move from the podtion in Fig. 1 to that of Fig. 8, piston vanes I will push the spent or inert gases in advance of the piston vanes in chambers 31 out through the exhaust ports 88. As soon as the pistons I pass the ports ll (see Fig. 8) the exploded charges in chambers" will pass through the exhaust ports II which are now in communication with the chambers 31 and the cycle of operation will be substantially complete.

It will be observed, from. the above, that the piston vanes I serve the function of scavenging vanes, as well as cut-off vanes, to'prevent the fresh charges, during the compression movemen of the pistons I, from passinlfl l the 31 to the exhaust ports 48; also, the pistons I not a casing, a rotor mounted to turn on its axis in said the piston vanes 6 is counterbalanced by the counterbalanced bell crank lever 34 and hence no undue outer force or scraping action is set up by the vanes 6 upon the inner walls of the engine.

Having now described my invention and the nature of same, what I claim and desire to be protected in, by Letters Patent, is:-- \y 1. In a valveless rotary engine of the kind described having suitable cooling means, an exhaust outlet, an intake manifold and carburettor, the combination comprising, a central housing having end covers thereto, tangental passages formed in said housing, intake ports, spark plugs gental passages formed around its inner periphatone end of said passages, a rotor having a hollow rim mounted in said housing, piston compartments formed in said hollow rim, pistons and piston vanes mounted in said compartments, means to actuate said piston vanes, and means to actuate said pistons to draw in a fuel charge from said carburettor and thereafter extend said pistons into said tangential passages to compress the fuel and to act as power abutments whereby when said fuel charge is ignited and expanded it causes said rotor to revolve within said housing.

2. In a valveless rotary engine ofthe kind described having suitable cooling means, an exhaust outlet, an intake manifold and carburettor, the combination comprising, a central housing-having end covers thereto, tangentalpassages formed around the inner periphery of said housing, intake ports and spark plugs, a rotor having a wide inner rim and an outer hollow rim built thereupon mounted within said housing, piston compartments formed within said hollow rim, piston vanes and pistons and rods mounted within-said compartments, means to actuate said piston vanes, means reciprocating said pistons, to cause the latter to project beyond the outer rim of said rotor into the tangental passages of said housing and form power abutments to said rotor whereby an ignited fuel charge may be made to exert pressure thereagainst to cause said rotor to revolve within said housing.

3. In a valveless rotary engine of the kind described having cooling means, an exhaust outlet, an intake manifold and carburettor, the combination comprising, a central housing having tanery and end covers thereto, intake ports and spark plugs, a hollow rimmed rotor mounted within said housing, piston compartments formed in said holl'ow rim, piston vanes and pistons mounted within said compartments, means to actuate said piston vanes, means reciprocating said pistons to cause the latter to project beyond the hollow rim of said rotor to form power abutments thereto, means to draw in a fuel charge through said-intake ports and deliver the same to said tangential passages, means to cause said pistons to compress said fuel charge, and means igniting said fuel charge to cause the latter to exert pressure against the abutments formed by said pistons whereby the rotor is caused to revolve within said housing.

4. In a rotary explosion engine, a stationary casing, said rotor having a piston housing, a reciprocating piston in said housing, said housing having aperipheral wall surrounding said rotor and provided with a tangential space constituting a working chamber, said casing having a fuel inlet port in advance of said working chamber which port is normally closed by the periphery of said rotor, said casing having an exhaust port communicating withsaid working chambena re- .1 ciprocating piston and a pistonvane in said pistonhousing, means continuously urging said piston vane into contact with the peripheral wall of said housing in advance of said piston, and means to reciprocate said piston to draw in a new charge from the fuel inlet port as the piston passes the port and thereafter advance the piston into the working chamber to contact the peripheral wall thereof and compress the new charge in the working' chamber at the back side of the piston, and means to fire the compressed charge, the piston then serving as a power abutment.

5. In a rotary explosion engine, .a stationary casing, .a rotor mounted to turn on its axis in said casing, said rotor having a piston housing,

a reciprocating piston in said housing, said housstituting a working chamber, said casing having a fuel inlet port in advance of said working chamber which port is normally closed by the periphcry of said rotor, said casing having an exhaust port communicating with said working chamber, a reciprocating piston and a piston vane in said piston housing, means continuously urging said piston vane into contact with the peripheral wall of said housing in advance of said piston, means to reciprocate said piston to draw in a new charge from the fuel ihlet port as the piston passes the port and thereafter advance the piston into the working chamber to contact the peripheral wall thereof and compress the new charge in the working chamber at theback side of the piston, means to fire the compressed charge, the piston then serving as a power abutment, and means to counterbalance the action of centrifugal force on said piston vanes so that no undue scraping action will take place between said piston vanes and said peripheral wall.

6. In a rotary explosive engine, a casing, a rotor mounted in said casing, a plurality of reciprocating pistons and sliding piston vanes in said rotor, said casing having a plurality of working chambers with which said pistons and piston vanes cooperate, said pistons each serving the two-fold function of a charging and compressing pump and a power abutment, and means to reciprocate said pistons inwardly to draw fresh fuel charges into the rotor and outwardly to compress said charges in the working chambers, means continuously acting to hold said piston vanes, while in said working chambers, to act as cut-offs against escape of fresh fuel charges and to act as scavenging vanes to push out preceding spent charges, said casing having a plurality of inlet ports for cooperation with said pistons and having an exhaust port for each working chamber.

'7. In a rotary explosive engine, a casing, a rotor mounted in said casing, a plurality of reciprocating pistons and sliding piston vanes in said rotor, said casing having a plurality of working chambers with which said pistons and piston vanes cooperate, said pistons each serving the two-fold function of a charging and compressing pump and a power abutment, means to reciprocate said pistons inwardly to draw fresh fuel 'charges into the rotor and outwardly to compress said charges in the working chambers, and means continuously acting" to hold said piston vanes, while in said working chambers, to act as cut-oifsagainst escape of fresh fuel charges and to act as scavenging vanes to push out preceding spent charges, said casing having a plurality of inlet ports for cooperation with said pistons and having an exhaust port for each working chamber, said continuously acting means comprising springs.

8. In a rotary explosive engine, a casing, a rotor mounted in said casing, a plurality of reciprocating pistons and sliding piston vanes in said rotor, said casing having a plurality of working chambers with which said pistons and piston vanes cooperate, said pistons each serving the two-fold function of a charging and compressing pump and a power abutment, means to reciprocate said pistons inwardly to draw fresh fuel charges into the rotor and outwardly to compress said charges in the working chambers, means. continuously acting to hold said piston vanes, while in said working chambers, to act as cutoifs against escape of fresh fuel charges and to act as scavenging vanes to push out preceding spent charges, said casing having a plurality of inlet ports for cooperation with said pistons and having an exhaust port for each working chamber, said continuously acting means comprising springs, and means to counterbalance the action of centrifugal force on said piston vanes.

9. In a rotary explosive engine, a casing, a rotor mounted in said casing, a plurality of reciprocating pistons and sliding piston vanes in 5 said rotor, said casing having a plurality of working chambers with which said pistons and piston vanes cooperate, said pistons each serving the two-fold function of a charging and compressing pump and a power abutment, means to 10 reciprocate said pistons inwardly to draw fresh fuel charges into the rotor and outwardly to compress said charges in the working chambers,

and means continuously acting to hold said piston vanes, while in said working chambers, to act 15 tons and having an exhaust port for each workgo ing chamber, said piston-reciprocating means comprising shaped cams and connections between said pistons and said cams by virtue of which said cams cause said pistons to follow the contour of the outer peripheries of said working as chambers while said pistons are acting as power abutments and for drawing said pistons entirely into the confines of the rotor while the pistons are passing the inlet ports to draw in fresh charges and thereafter expel and compress the a same into the working chambers.

' CHARLES APPLETON. 

